Circuit interrupter



March 22, 1949. J. M. CUMMING CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 12, 1944 INVENTOR James M Cumming. q; 11 3/ mm Y WITNESSES: m/w.

March 22, 1949. J. M. CUMMING 2,465,203

CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER Filed Oct. 12, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F7 2. fl a 1 294 [+17 WITNESSES: INVENTOR g//% James M Gum/77mg.

Wm M f/vsuuyrlozv i/ E a 2 ATTOR Y to Fig. 1 thereof,

'PomdMmnim 2,405,203 CIRCUIT mrannvrrna James M. Cum

to Westinghouse Pittsburgh, Pa.,

ming, Turtle Creek, Pa., anigno Electric Corporation, Eu: a corporation of Pennsylvania Application October 12,1944, Serial No. 558,310

1 This invention relates to circuit interrupter-s,

in general, and more particularly, to arc-extin- 'guishing structures therefor.

My invention constitues an improvement over the operating arrangements disclosed in United States application Serial No. 553,997, filed September 14, 1944, by Winthrop M. Leeds, and assigned to the assignee of the instant application.

A-general object of my invention is to provide a circuit interrupter of improved construction in which a plurality of arcs are drawn and extinguished in a more effective manner than has heretofore been achieved.

Another object is to provide an improved circuit interrupter comprising two serially related arc- Fig. 1, the parts being shown in the fully open circuit position;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but taken sub stantially on the line III-Ill of Fig. 4, the parts being shown in the closed circuit position;

Fig. at is a side elevational view partly in section taken substantially on the line IV--IV of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a view in section taken on the line V-V of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the rotatable contact structures.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly the reference numeral i desig nates a tank in which a suitable arc-extinguishing fluid 2, such as circuit breaker oil, is filled to the level 3. Depending from the cover 4 of the tank I are two insulating bushings 5, 6, through which extend terminal studs 1, I.

Threadedly secured to the lower ends of the terminal studs 1, 8 are two identical arc-extinguishing assemblages generally designated byv the reference numeral 9. Electrically interconnecting the two arc-extinguishing assemblages in the closed circuit position of the interrupter, as shown in Fig. 1, is a movable conducting bridglng member ID reciprocally operated in a vertical 12 Claims. (Cl. 200150) 2 direction by an insulating operating rod H actuated by a suitable mechanism, not shown.

During the closing operation, the bridging member It moves upwardly, sliding'between disconnect fingers I2 and striking a conducting cross member I! which supports at its outer ends two insulating operating rods l4 extending exteriorly on opposite sides of each arc-extinguishing assemblage 9. The rods I4 are pivotally connected at I5 to a plurality of crank arms l6 which serve to rotate during the opening and closing operations shafts i7.

The arc-extinguishing assemblage 9 comprises a casing generally designated by the reference numeral M which is formed by two side plates it formed of insulating material and a suitably shaped center member 20 also formed of insulatins material. The center member 20 has formed therein a plurality of annular cavities or recesses, generally designated by the reference numeral 2i. Rotatably positioned on the shafts ll within the annular cavities 2i are a plurality of disks or liquid moving members, generally designated by the reference numeral 22,

.Each disk 22 carries a pair of contacts 23, as more clearly shown in Fig. 6. The assembling of the disk 22 is facilitated by constructing the disk 22 out of three suitably shaped parts of insulating material which separately may be designated by the reference numerals 24, 25, and 26. The contacts 23 may then be inserted within suitably shaped recesses provided in the center part 25 of the disk 22.

It will be observed, referring to Fig. 3, that in the closed circuit position the pair of contacts 23 associated with a disk 22 siidably engages with the pair of contacts 23 associated with the adjacently disposed disk '22.

It will be observed that each of the parts 24, 25 and 26 have associated therewith a portion 2'! which extends between the contacts 23 in the fully open circuit position of the interrupter as shown in Fig. 2.

During the opening operation, the bridging member Ill moves downwardly to permit the accelerating compression springs 28 (Fig. 4) to move the cross member i3 downwardly, thereby lowering the operating rods I 4. The lowering of the rods I4 efiects, as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3, a clockwise rotation of the disks 22 and a consequent separation of adjacently disposed pairs of contacts 23 to establish a plurality of seriall related arcs. The rotation of the disk 22 causes the movement of fluid within the cavity 2! by the piston action caused by the rotative movement of accuses the portion 20 oi. the disk 22 to force oil through the arc and out a plurality oi vents 30 formed in the center member 20. The turbulence thereby created at the arcs rapidly effects the extinction thereof and the conducting bridging member ill separates from the disconnect fingers i2 to introduce two isolating gaps into the circuit.

It will be observed that associated with the conducting clamp 3| is a stationary contact 32 with which the upper pair of contacts 23 makes sliding engagement in the closed circuit position of the interrupter, as shown in Fig. 3.

Also disposed at the lower end of the casing I! are a pair of contacts 3! with which the lower pair of contacts 23 makes sliding engagement in the closed circuit position of the interrupter. A

simultaneously eiiecting opening rotative move-' means for pivotally mounting the members, and

portion 34 of the cross member it makes sliding engagement with the pair of contacts 33 at all times.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that I have provided an improved circuit interrupter in which circuit interruption is effected by a rotative movement of a plurality of disks carrying movable contacts 23. The rotative movement of the disk 22 forces by piston action oil to flow against the arcs formed, and a portion 2'5 of each disk 22 coacts with a similar. portion 21 of the adjacently disposed disk 22 to introduce insulating means between the several contacts in the fully open circuit position of the interrupter, as shown in Fig. 2.

It will be noted that the arrangement is exceedingly simple and has no shunts. It will also be noted that the arrangement is easily inspected as the removal of one of the outside plates is exposes all the contacts at once. This inspection feature is quite essential and most complicated on the majority of multi-contact interrupters. I! desired, the side plates l9 could have associated therewith impedance means to serve as voltage distribution shields, thus dividing the voltage equally along the arc-extinguishing assemblage between the several contacts 23.

Although I have shown and described a specific structure, it is tobe clearly understood that the same was merely for purposes of illustration, and that changes and modifications may readily be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a circuit interrupter, an arc-extinguishing assemblage comprising a plurality of movable contacts making substantially end-to-end engagement in the closed circuit positio means for pivotally mounting each or the contacts intermediate the ends thereof, means deflning a cavity associated with each movable contact within which the movable contact rotates, means for effecting simultaneous rotative opening movement of all of the contacts within the cavities, and insulating means forming a fluid moving wing associated with each contact and movable within the respective cavity to force fluid through the are drawn by said contact. I

2. In a circuit interrupter of the liquid break type, an arc-extinguishing assemblage comprising a casing immersed in liquid, a plurality of re-' cesses formed in the casing, a plurality of movable contacts disposed in the plurality of recesses and making substantially end-to-end engagement in the closed circuit position of the interrupter, means pivotally mounting the movable contacts means for simultaneously effecting opening rotative movement of all 0! the liquid moving members.

4. In a circuit interrupter, a substantially enclosed insulating casing forming a plurality of annular cavities, a plurality of movable insulating disks disposed in the plurality of cavities, each disk carrying a movable contact, the contact making engagement with the contact associated with the adjacent disk, means for pivotally mounting the disks, means for simultaneously effecting opening rotative movement of all of the disks, means for venting the casing at a plurality of points, and the opening rotative movement 0! the disks forcing liquid toward the venting means.

5. In a circuit interrupter, an arc-extinguishing assemblage including a casing, a plurality of recesses formed in the casing, a plurality of elongated movable contacts disposed in the plurality 0i recesses and making substantially endto-end engagement in the closed circuit position of the interrupter, means pivotally mounting the movable contacts intermediate the ends thereof, and a fluid moving wing associated with at least one of the movable contacts and movable there: with within the recess to force fluid toward the established arc.

6. In a circuit interrupter, an arc-extinguishing assemblage including a casing, a plurality of recesses formed in the casing, a plurality of elongated movable contacts disposed in the plurality oi recesses and making substantially endto-end engagement in the closed circuit position of the interrupter, means pivotally mounting the movable contacts intermediate the ends thereof, a fluid moving wing associated with at least one ot the movable contacts and movable therewith within the recess to force fluid toward the established arc, and means for simultaneously effecting opening rotative movement of all the movable contacts.

'7. In a circuit interrupter, an arc-extinguishing assemblage including a casing, a plurality of recesses formed in the casing, a plurality of elongated movable contacts disposed in the .plu-v rality of recesses and making substantially endto-end engagement in the closed circuit position of the interrupter, means pivotally mounting the movable contacts intermediate the ends thereof, a fluid moving wing associated with at least one of the movable contacts and movable therewith within the recess to force fluid toward the es- 'tablished arc, and means for simultaneously eflecting opening rotative movement of all the movable contacts in the same direction.

8. In a liquid break circuit interrupter, an arcextinguishing assemblage including a casing immersed in liquid the casing including a member having a plurality of cavities formed therein, a plurality of liquid moving elongated movable contacts disposed in the plurality of cavities and intermediate the ends thereof, and means for 79 making substantially end-to-end engagement in the closed circuit position of the interrupter, means pivotally mounting each of the movable contacts intermediate the ends thereof, and a side cover plate enclosing the cavities, the removal of the cover plate from the member facilithe closed circuit position of the interrupter,

means pivotally mounting each of the movable contacts intermediate the ends thereof, a fluid moving wing associated with at least one of the movable contacts and movable therewith within the recess to force fluidtoward the established arc, and a side cover plate enclosing the recesses, the removal of the cover plate from the member facilitating inspection of the contacts.

10. In a circuit interrupter, an arc-extinguishing assemblage including a casing, the casing including a member having a plurality of annular recesses formed therein, a .plurality of elongated movable contacts disposed in the plurality of recesses and making substantially end-to-end engagement in the closed circuit position of the interrupter, means pivotally mounting each of the movable contacts intermediate the ends thereof, an arcuately shaped fluid moving wing associated with at least one of the movable contacts and movable therewith within th annular recess to force fluid toward the established arc, and a side cover plate enclosingthe annular recesses, the removal of the cover plate from the member facilitating inspection of the contacts.

11. In a circuit interrupter, an arc-extinguishing assemblage including a casing, the casing including a member having a plurality of annular recesses formed therein, a plurality of elongated movable contacts disposed in the plurality of re-' cesses and making substantially end-to-end engagement in the closed circuit position of the interrupter, means pivotally mounting each of the movable contacts intermediate the ends thereof, an arcuately shaped fluid moving wing associated with at least one of the movable contacts and movable therewith within the annular recess to force fluid toward the established are, a side cover plate enclosing the annular recesses, the removal of the cover plate from the member facilitating inspection of the contacts, and means for causing the simultaneous rotation of all of the movable contacts within the annular recesses.

12. In a circuit interrupter, an arc-extinguishing assemblage including a casing, the casing including a member having a plurality of annular recesses formed therein, a plurality of elongated movable contacts disposed in the plurality of recesses and making substantially end-to-end engagement in the closed circuit position of the interrupter, means pivotally mounting each of the movable contacts intermediate the ends thereof, an arcuately shaped fluid moving wing associated with at least one of the movable contacts and movable therewith within the annular recess to force fluid toward the established are, a side cover plate enclosing the annular recesses, the removal of the cover plate from the member facilitating inspection of the contacts, and means for causing the simultaneous rotation of all or the movable contacts in the same direction during the opening operation.

JAMES M. CUMMING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,334,645 Bechoff et al Mar. 23, 1920 1,785,194 Hammerly Dec. 16, 1930 1,804,063 Schwetzer May 5, 1931 1,847,463 Austin Mar. 1, 1932 1,856,121 Austin May 3, 1932 1,939,090 Torok Dec. 12, 1933 2,100,753 Schofield et al. Nov. 30, 1937 2,155,263 Flurscheim Apr. 18, 1939 2,160,630 Van Sickle et a1 May 30, 1939 2,359,127 Leeds Sept. 26, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 377,898 Germany June 29, 1923 515,974 France Dec. 1, 1920 

